Scholarship NibThe Ontario Graduate Scholarship for International Students 2023–2024 is currently in effect. The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) are covered on this page.
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST) programs reward academic excellence in Ontario’s publicly funded universities.
The Ontario government and partner institutions jointly fund both initiatives. The government donates two-thirds of the award value, while the university contributes the remaining one-third. You can check out the Alexander Rutherford Scholarship 2023/2024: Apply Now!
What is the Ontario Graduate Scholarship?
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is one of the best graduate student scholarships in Canada.
The prize, co-sponsored by the province of Ontario and certain Ontario universities, is a merit-based scholarship open to all Ontario students in any discipline.
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is highly worth considering if you want to pursue a PhD program or a master’s degree in Canada at one of Ontario’s best universities.
Depending on the number of terms you are enrolled in, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program will give you the following amounts:
- $10,000 for two consecutive terms of study
- $15,000 for three consecutive terms of study
- A minimum of one academic year (two or three consecutive academic terms) is required.
- A maximum of two years (up to six consecutive academic sessions) is permitted.
In addition, the OGS has a lifetime limit of two academic years for master’s students and four academic years for doctorate students. Or, for graduate students, a maximum of six academic years.
Beginning date
Successful OGS and QEII-GSST applicants will begin their studies in 2023–2024. Spring 2024, fall 2024, or winter 2025 are the available start dates.
Duration
The awards are non-renewable and are only valid for one year. To be considered, applicants must apply annually.
Recipients may hold the scholarship for a minimum of two terms (a total of $10,000) or a maximum of three terms (a total of $15,000). It is not authorized to accept an OGS/QEII-GSST for only one term.
International OGS Competition Deadlines
- The deadline to submit a transcript request webform is February 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. (ET).
- The deadline for submitting an OGS/QEII-GSST application to the department graduate coordinator is February 1, 2024.
- The deadline for referees to transmit reference letters to the applicant’s department graduate coordinator is February 1, 2024.
To be considered, international students must be presently enrolled in a graduate program at Waterloo or be on an approved leave of absence or inactive term by February 1, 2024. All students must be enrolled full-time at the time the grant is awarded.
Domestic OGS/QEII-GSST Competition Deadlines
- The deadline to submit a transcript request webform is February 1, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. (ET).
- The deadline for submitting an OGS/QEII-GSST application to the department graduate coordinator is February 1, 2024.
- The deadline for referees to transmit reference letters to the applicant’s department graduate coordinator is February 1, 2024.
- February 1, 2024: Deadline for applying to a Waterloo graduate program (if applicable).
Scholarship for Graduate Studies in Ontario Criteria for Eligibility
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program is co-governed by the Ontario government and the Ontario universities that participate.
The province sets the deadline for applying for the scholarship, but it varies for every university.
Citizenship
Both domestic and international students are eligible for the Ontario Graduate Scholarships.
According to the rules, the applicant must be:
- At the time of application, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; an international student studying at an Ontario university with a valid Canadian study permit.
- Students who are protected under Section 95(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) may also apply for this award.
Academic Prerequisites
Applicants must meet the following academic standards to be eligible for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship:
- Before being awarded the scholarship, you must have an A-average (the Ontario equivalent of 80%) in both years of full-time study.
- International applicants must be fluent in English by the time they apply.
- The applicant must be enrolled in a graduate degree program full-time, that is, 60% or more of a full course load as defined by the university.
- For students with disabilities, the rate is 40% or higher.
Conditions for Eligibility for Ontario Graduate Scholarships
Master’s students are eligible for the grant for up to two years. Doctoral students, on the other hand, may get the grant for a period of four years.
For each student, the maximum lifetime restriction for a government-funded scholarship is six years.
A single student cannot receive two government-funded scholarships at the same time. The following are the restricted scholarships:
- Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (QEII-GSST)
- Trillium Scholarships in Ontario (OTS)
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) are available in Canada.
How to Apply for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship 2023-2024 for International Students.
Because OGS program adjudication occurs at the program level, dates and detailed methods are defined by an individual master’s-level program at Canadian universities.
When applying for the scholarship, students must provide the following documentation:
- Academic assessment reports from two academic referees that are confidential.
- Academic transcripts from prior postsecondary schools attended.
- A photocopy of proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residence status, or copies of visa papers.
- Study plan (maximum of 3,950 characters, including spaces)
- Previous recognition, publication, or research experience
How competitive is the Ontario Graduate Scholarship?
The OGS provides 3,000 scholarships each year and receives a large number of applicants; thus, it is not one of Canada’s numerous unclaimed scholarships. Given that Ontario has over 180,000 graduate students enrolled in programs, competition can be strong.
However, the OGS is a free scholarship in Canada, and your odds of receiving it are roughly 33%, so applying if you are eligible is worthwhile.
It’s also worth noting that many of the participating colleges reserve some of their graduate scholarships, particularly for Indigenous and international students.
Because any amount can help reduce the costs of graduate school in Canada, graduate students in Ontario should apply for the OGS.
Conditions for Acceptance and Continuance of OGS
A recipient of an Ontario Graduate Scholarship shall not work more than 10 hours per week per academic session.
Ensure that their Social Insurance Number (SIN) is entered into WebAdvisor, as the reward cannot be completed until a SIN is entered. International students are exempt from this requirement.
Accept no research assistantships, part-time teaching jobs, or other paid work that would jeopardize their status as a full-time graduate student.
FAQS
How does the Ontario Graduate Scholarship work?
The Ontario Graduate Scholarship is one of the top government awards in Ontario for graduate students. Applicants can receive up to $10,000 in funding for two consecutive study terms or $15,000 for three consecutive study terms.
How do I get an Ontario Graduate Scholarship?
You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or international student with valid study permission to be eligible for the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. You must also be enrolled in an appropriate graduate program for two consecutive terms or have a completed graduate studies application at one of the participating universities. Most colleges additionally demand that you have at least an 80% average in your coursework.
Is the Ontario Graduate Scholarship Complete?
The OGS is supported by the member universities as well as the Ontario government.
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